‘Marlfield’, 2 Marlfield Road, Marlfield, Portaferry, Co Down, BT22 1PH

Marlfield

A large 1½-storey and 2-storey T-shaped farmhouse of probably 19th century date (appearing on the 1834 Ordnance Survey map and evidently constructed between 1820 and 1839). Despite the loss of some original features, the building retains sufficient architectural character to merit listing.

The house is constructed of roughcast and rendered walls, painted white, with yellow brick chimneys topped with replacement octagonal-section pots of 19th century appearance. The roofs are slated with Bangor blue slates in regular courses between fireclay gable copings.

The main 2-storey block faces north-east onto a private lane, with an off-centre entrance containing a new rectangular timber panelled door replacing the original sheeted door with fanlight. The north-east elevation displays four windows to the first floor and three to the ground floor (two to the left of the doorway, one to the right), all rectangular timber sliding sash windows, vertically hung with 2 over 2 panes and horizontal glazing bars with horns. The north-west gable contains one small sashed window (1 over 1) to the first floor and two lean-to projections at ground level with rectangular timber tongued and grooved sheeted doors, slated roofs, and a small perspex glazed window to the smaller lean-to store. The south-west (rear) elevation is a 5-bay design with a projecting lean-to porch at the second bay from the left. Most windows match those of the north-east elevation, except those to the first and third bays from the left on the ground floor, and two windows within the porch, which are sashed 2 over 2 with vertical glazing bars. The porch contains a new ledged timber half-door.

The 1½-storey block connects to the south-west, its south-west gable featuring a yellow brick chimney to the apex and one ground floor window sashed 4 over 4. The first floor contains a central timber glazed and sheeted door with sidelight opening onto a small balcony with wrought iron railings, and a small window sashed 2 over 2 to the left. The south-east elevation displays wet dash render covering original brick dressings. A central opening that originally contained a steel sliding door now holds a pair of glazed and sheeted timber doors with small-paned sidelights, new fluted plain pilasters, and a tongued and grooved sheeted frieze, all opening onto a new stone paved ramp. Two windows flank this opening with new timber sashes, 4 over 4 with horns. The north-east gable of the 1½-storey block mirrors the south-west gable in its openings, finishes, and chimney.

Replacement cast iron rainwater goods have been fitted throughout.

The building stands in its own grounds in a rural setting. The main entrance front faces a private lane and is set back behind a small rockery garden with crazy paving, a low stone boundary wall with cement rendered coping, and a wrought iron pedestrian gate between square rubble stone piers. The south-east elevation, facing the main road with a slight setback, has a small stone paved area bounded by a stone plinth wall with new decorative iron railings. The rear elevation overlooks a small stone crazy paved court bounded by low rubble stone walls with cement rendered coping. This court leads to a gravelled driveway bordered by flower beds with a small grassed area to the west. The south-east boundary is a new rubble stone wall with a pair of ironwork gates between new square piers. Mature trees line the north boundary with hedges, and a small single storey shed stands along the north boundary to the rear, featuring white painted roughcast walls, a hipped slated roof, a timber fixed light window, and a timber sheeted door.

Historical Context

A house seemingly of local importance is shown within Marlfield townland on a 1767 map of the Ards, though there is no certainty of connection to the present building. The current structure appears to be that shown on the 1834 Ordnance Survey map. Valuation records of 1838 indicate that at that time it contained two properties: the two-storey portion belonged to Robert McCleery, whilst the roadside portion was held by Robert McDonnell. Second valuation returns of 1861 show Ellen Gordon occupying one house, with the other listed as a 'caretaker's house', though the records do not clearly distinguish which was which. When surveyed in 1974, the two-storey section remained occupied whilst the single-storey portion served as garage and store. The entire building is now vacant.

Although historical sources suggest the building originally contained two separate properties, local folk memory presents a different account. Local tradition holds that the single-storey portion was originally conceived as extra living quarters and possibly a new front elevation for the house. Shortly after its construction, however, it was discovered that the new section had been built on land belonging to the Nugent estate, which would have rendered occupation as a dwelling subject to a high rent. Consequently, the story suggests, the extension was never completed nor lived in.